Loin cloth



arch 1955 G. c. HUGGINS LOIN CLOTH Filed April 2, 1951 I NVE NTOR GRACE COLES HU66/N3 United States Patent LOIN CLOTH Grace Coles Huggins, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application April 2, 1951, Serial No. 218,824 12 Claims. (Cl. 128--295) This invention relates to a loin cloth, and more particularly to a loin cloth for people having physical ailments.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loin cloth which will adequately cover both male and female wearers and yet readily allow physical examination of the wearers body.

It is another object of this invention to provide a loin cloth which may be used to carry a disposable urinal.

A loin cloth constructed in accordance with this invention comprises a back portion having a waistband, said waistband being provided with detachable securing means for securing the band around the waist of the wearer, and said back portion converging from the ends of the waistband to form a narrow crotch portion, said crotch portion diverging to form a comparatively wide front portion having a transverse band extending from side to side at the outer end thereof, said transverse band and waistband being provided with detachable securing means for securing the front portion to the waistband, the edges of the said back, crotch and front portions when extended forming two generally concave lines from the said waistband to the said transverse band. Because of thegenerally concave shape of the edges of the loin cloth, the back and the front portions both converging to form the crotch portion, the upper leg of the wearer is almost completely exposed. This is of particular advantage in examining and treating paraplegics, amputees, and sufierers from poliornyelitis and other leg ailments and injuries. The loin cloth provides a good support and yet allows complete freedom of movement for mat exercises and ambulation. In the preferred construction, the transverse band is of substantially half the length of the waistband, and its detachable securing means are located adjacent its ends so that the transverse band is secured to the waistband at each side of the wearer.

Since the front portion is detachably secured to the waistband, it may easily be dropped down, without removing the loin cloth from the wearer, in order to expose the normally covered parts of the body. Thus, gynecological, obstetrical and surgical examinations and operations are made possible with the least amount of manipulation. Because of the comparatively rapid convergence of the edges of the back portion from the ends of the waistband, loin cloths constructed in accordance with this invention expose considerably more of the body when the front portion is dropped down than do other garments of this type.

A semiattached lining or pouch is provided inside the loin cloth. The lining or pouch helps to retain catheters in place, and is fabricated from absorbent material to serve as a blotter for excreta. Its primary function, however, is to serve as a support for a portable and disposable urinal which may be used by persons wholack control over their bodily functions.

In addition to the above advantages, loin cloths constructed according to this invention are of simple and inexpensive construction, fit snugly and comfortably, and,

2,739,595 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 while having no seams which might rub against the are both strong and neat.

They may easily be adapted for beach and sports wear, providing excellent freedom of movement and exposing much of the body to the sun.

In drawings which illustrate one embodiment of this invention, and in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the inside of a loin cloth constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in a flat or extended position;

Pig. 2 is a front elevation of the loin cloth on a wearer as it appears in its normal position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the loin cloth on a wearer with the front and crotch portions dropped down;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the loin cloth on a wearer as it appears in its normal position;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a disposal urinal for use with the loin cloth; and

Fig. 6 is an elevation, with parts of the loin cloth broken away, showing the lining of a loin cloth supporting a disposable urinal.

In the drawings, a loin cloth constructed in accordance with this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The cloth has two substantially parallel ends, one being substantially twice the length of the other and defining the maximum width of the loin cloth. Along this longer end a'waistband 11 is provided. In the embodiment shown, this band is comprised of a comparatively wide hem along the end of the cloth. The hem is'shirred or gathered midway between its ends and an elastic strap 12 is sewn to this shirred portion to make the waistband adjustable. The band has detachable securing means 13 adjacent its ends for securing the band around the waist of the wearer, the said securing means suitably comprising stud and socket fasteners 13 and 13 respectively.

Along the'shorter end of the loin cloth a transverse band 14 is formed by a second comparatively wide hem. The transverse band and waistband are provided with detachable securing means 15, suitably comprising stud fasteners'lS adjacent the endsof the transverse band and socket fasteners 15 located between each end of the waistband and the shirred portion of the waistband.

The edges of the loin cloth between the waist and transverse bands are symmetrical and are generally concave throughout their length, forming a narrowest portion or crotch portion 10 intermediate the ends. The portion of the cloth adjacent the waistband will hereinafter be called the back portion 10, and the portion adjacent the transverse band will be hereinafter called the front portion 10. The back, crotch and front portions are defined by the positions they assume adjacent the back, crotch region and front hypogastric region of the wearer when the loin cloth is in position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show how the loin cloth is put on. With the back portion against thewearer's back, waistband 11 is passed around the waist and secured by fasteners 13. The crotch and front portions hang behind the wearer, as shown in Fig; 3, forming a flap or apron. The flap is passed under the crotch and up the front of the wearer, and fasteners 15 and 15 are secured together at each side of the wearer. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 that the crotch portion 10 is of suflicient width that it must be gathered together transversely when passed below the crotch of the wearer; thus, adequate material is provided to conceal completely the private parts of both male and female wearers, so that patients can be exercised publicly without embarrassment.

It is clear from the figures that-a loin cloth constructed,

according to this invention exposes substantially all of the wearers leg, and the flap can easily be let down to ex .pose most of the wearers body.

and. its other end being stitched adjacent. the back per-- tipn of the loin cloth. Since :the lining is attached only at its ends to the loin-cloth, stitching in :the cloth is minimized and the appearance of the garment is improved. Fnrthermorethe gathered materialnt' the crotch plus the lining-disguises the contour of the body organs at the crotch and eliminates shadowy appearances thatregion.

Thelining thus forms a pouch, and in the .part of the pouch which may become soiled by arine, arshort longitudinal. slit or opening 17 is made. A disposable urinal may be inserted the pouch through this slit.

:A. suitable disposable urinal 18 is shown :in Fig. 5. vIt consists of a waterproof bag made of polyethylene or. the like. The top of the urinal is-cut for ashort-distance down one side and in this cut is hung a strip '13 of absorbent paper or the like, most of the strip hanging outside the uninaL. The urinal is placed in the lining or pouch with its top protruding from the opening 17, and the short cut down the side of the urinal permits the top to be spread out over theopeningasshown in Fig. 6.. Theurinal is adjusted so that stsip .19 lies at the bottom of the opening .17 when the loin cloth is being worn, most of strip 1.9 lying under the lining.

The portion of strip 19 which hangs outof the'uninal 9 is long enough to pass beneath: the rectum, and the disposable urinal also extends below the rectum to prevent rectal excreta from soiling the outside of the loin cloth. As stated before, the lining itself is of absorbent material. Since the lining is only semiattached, soiled or wet spots on it can readily be cleaned off without soaking the whole garment. The portable and disposable urinal is of great help to patients who lackv control in their bodily :fiunctions, and the urinal may be disposed of and replaced by the patient without embarrassment. The loin cloth is easily undone, and the arrangement of all the parts is such that even badly handicapped patients'are able to look after themselves. r

It is thought that the construction and use of the invention will be apparent from the above description of the various parts and their purpose. :It is to be under-- stood that the form of the invention Eherewith shown. and described is to be takenv as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes :in the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to, without departing the suhfrom the spirit of the invention as defined in joined claims.

What 1 claim as my invention is: t. A loin cloth comprising a back. portion having-a waistband, said waistband beingprovided with detachable securing means for securing the band around the waist 1 of the wearer, said back portion converging. from the ends of the waistband to formva narrow crotch portion, said crotch portion diverging. to .form a comparatively wide front portion having a transverse band extending from side to side at the outer end athereoflsaid transverse bandand waistband being provided with detachable securing means for securing :the front portion to the waistband. the edges of the said back, crotch and front portions when extended forming two generally concave lines from the said waistband to the said transverse band, whereby the loin clothwh'en worn exposes muchof the thigh of the wearer between the levels of the wearers crotch and waist, the crotch portion being of sufficient width as to require gathering together transversely when passed below the crotch of the wearer, and i said crotch and front portion's having a lining attached atone of its ends to the front portion adjacent said transverse band a-ndgat its. other end adjacent the baclc portion,, the lining, being un- 4 attached to the crotch portion and the front portion be tween said ends.

2. A loin cloth comprising a back portion having a waistband, said waistband being provided with detachable securing means for securing the band around the waist of the wearer, and said back portion converging from the ends of the waistband to form a narrow crotch portion, said crotch portion diverging to form a comparatively wide front portion having atransverse band extending from side to side at the outer end thereof, said transverse band and waistband being provided with detachable securing means for securing the front portion to the waistband, the edges of the said back, crotch .and front pot" tions when extended forming two generally concave lines from the said waistband to the said transverse band, the said crotch and front portions having a lining compris ing a pouch which has an opening and is adapted to receive adisposable urinal.

3. A loin cloth comprising a front portion, a pouch provided at the inside of the front portion and having an opening, and a disposable urinal bagsupported in the poucl-rwith .its'mouth in said opening to mine,

bag being waterproof to retain the urine therein;

4. A loin cloth comprising a front portion and a crotch portion, means for supporting said portions to fit against thezfnont hypogas'tric region and crotch region respective'ly of the wearer, the front and crotch portions having a lining forming a pouch which liesagainst said regions of the wearer and has an opening, and edicposable waterproof urinal bagsnpported in the pouch to receive urine, the bag being removable throughsziie'i opening.

.5. Azloin' cloth comprising :a front portion and a crotch portion, means for supporting said portions to ditagainst the front :hypo'gastric region and crotch region respectively of :the wearer, a pouch secured to "the inside of the front and crotch portions and retained by said portions-to lie against said regions of the wearer and having anopening, and a disposable waterproof urinal bag supported: in the pouch with its mouth protruding out of the opening to :receive urine, the urinal bag being-removable irons the pouch through the opening.

6. A loin cloth comprising a front portion, a crotch portion, .a back portion, means for supporting said portions .to fit against the front, crotch and rear areas respectivelly of the wearer, and 'a bag-like pouch at their:- side of the front and crotch portions, the pouch "being elongated and having one end at the front portion and the other end adjacent the back portion whereby the pouch lies :againstztb-e front and-crotch areas of'th'e wearer,

the sides of the pouch between said ends being closed and said other end being closed and the pouch having an opening adjacent said one end whereby a nrinal hag may be placed in the pouch with the mouth-oftl'ie nrinal bag insaidopening. s

7.. A loin cloth as claimed in claim 6, in which the pouch is at least partly of absorbent material and forms a lining for the loin cloth.

8. A loin :cloth as claimed in claim 6, in which the pouch forms a lining attached at said one to {the front portion and at said other end adjacent the back' portions portion but unattached to the crotch'and from between said ends.

s. A loin new as claimed in than 6- and including 51 disposable waterproof urinal bag supported in the'pouch with the mouthof the urinal bag i'nsaid openingi" loin cloth comprising a 'backportion having a" waistband, said'waistband being provided withdetaclrable' securing meansfor securing the band around the waist of the wearer, and said back portion convergingfrom the ends of the waistband to form a narrow crotch portion;

said crotch portion diverging to form a -comparativeiy wide front portion having atransverse band extending fromsideto side at the outer end thereof, said transverse band and wa istbandibein g provided detachable securing means for securing the front portion to the waistband, the edges of the said back, crotch and front por tions when extended forming two generally concave lines from the said waistband to the said transverse band, and a bag-like pouch provided at the inside of the front portion and having an opening for receiving a disposable urinal bag.

11. A loin cloth as claimed in claim 10, in which the pouch is elongated and forms a lining, the pouch having one end attached to the front portion and its other end 1 attached adjacent the back portion, the pouch being unattached to the crotch and front portions between said ends.

12. A loin cloth as claimed in claim 11 and including a disposable waterproof urinal bag supported in the pouch with the mouth of the urinal bag in said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 584,490 Warren June 15, 1897 2,431,571 Lehr Nov. 25, 1947 2,443,474 Morgan June 15, 1948 2,529,999 Chambers Nov. 14, 1950 2,545,761 Brink Mar. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 154,989 Austria June 15, 1938 959,845

France Oct. 10, 1949 

